GUWAHATI, May 16 - The Sonaram Higher Secondary School playground located at Bharalumukh here holds fond memories for local people who used to play and spend time on the field during their childhood. Much to their chagrin, the lush green field, complete with a wooden gallery, is no longer in existence.

“Earlier, the ground was used for all kinds of sports like cricket, football and volleyball, and it also hosted inter-school competitions of Kamrup district. But with the passage of time, such sporting activities declined due to negligence and non-maintenance of the field. As the field deteriorated and the wooden gallery collapsed, people lost their zeal to play and watch games and sports there,” some residents rued. Adequate steps should be taken by the Sonaram Higher Secondary School authorities to improve the condition of the playground, they added.

Meanwhile, the use of the playground has been restricted to only sports-related activities, the Bihu function organised by the West Guwahati Bihu Committee and public meetings held by the district administration. A football camp was held for school students during the last summer vacation. Recently, a day-night cricket tournament was organised on the playground by the Santipur Athletics Club.

The field is not open to any commercial activities. A master plan has also been prepared to renovate the entire field with an open as well as a covered gallery along with other facilities, said Dwijendra Nath Borthakur, principal of Sonaram Higher Secondary School.

Several measures have been initiated by the school authorities to revive the past glory of the playground through regular cleanliness drives and banning entry of people taking driving lessons on the ground. Funds have also been provided by the Government to maintain the field.